For the first time, the biennial conference will take a road trip to the MU Southwest Center.

“There is enough different research going on to make the half-day trip,” Horner said. The topics include novel-endophyte fescue trials, residual feed intake studies, pasture measuring tools and the U.S.-N.Z. breeding work.

A major breakthrough has been made on fixed-time artificial insemination to improve pregnancy rates and uniformity of calving dates.

The controlled calving period matches the cow’s peak nutrition needs to the peak of grass growth.

Early research results from the MU grazing dairy attracted national attention, Horner said.

“We already have people registered from across the county,” he said. “What has been a Missouri conference is becoming a national conference.”

The conference is at the Springfield Expo Center, with housing at the nearby University Plaza Hotel.